Liberia Diaspora Engagement Program Reactivated

The Liberian Government has reactivated the Liberia Diaspora Engagement Program in fulfillment of President George Manneh Weah’s inaugural address delivered on January 22, 2018.

The Liberia Diaspora Engagement Program was endorsed by the Liberian Cabinet in 2010 under the auspices of the Minister of State Without Portfolio with a mandate to develop a comprehensive draft National Diaspora Engagement Policy.

This program was scheduled to have begun 2013, but suffered delays due to various factors, worsened by the Ebola epidemic in 2014.

The Diaspora program was successfully activated in September 2015 with funding from World Bank (WB), while a draft National Diaspora Engagement Policy was produced in July 2016 to enhance the smooth implementation of the program.

In line with President Weah’s inaugural address, the program has moved into its next phase by engaging Diaspora Liberians for their direct involvement in the growth and development of the country.

According to the Executive Mansion release, the program, which intends to create direct engagement with Diaspora Liberians, will focus on three basic areas including: social, economic and political engagements.

However, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has approved a minimum funding for the operation of the Unit and the creation of a comprehensive database of professional Liberians in the Diaspora through a project titled “Capacity Building for their Diaspora Engagement” with its office placed at the Ministry of State. The effort is to strengthen the program.

A two-man high-powered delegation from the IOM including Mr. Herve Karege, Project Manager and Mr. Amr Nagy, Health Coordinator and IOM Officer-in-Charge was in Liberia to hold discussions with authorities at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.